vacant English · revision 39568

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1290, South English Legendary|origins=la vacō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈveɪkənt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|vacaunt]], [[bor|fro|vacant|t=idle, unoccupied]] (Anglo-Norman [[m|xno|vacaunt]]), and partly directly [[la|vacāns|t=empty, unoccupied]],^(OED 2026)^(MED)^(Etymonline) the present participle of [[m|la|vacō|t=to be empty, be free, be at leisure]].^(Klein 1966)^(MWU 2024)^(Barnhart 1988) The OED notes that the evidence is scanty before the late 16th century,^(OED 2026) and Hoad thinks the word was then taken afresh from Latin.^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) Klein relates the Latin verb to [[m|la|vacuus|t=empty]], the source of [[vacuum]], and probably to [[m|la|vāstus|t=empty, waste]];^(Klein 1966) Merriam-Webster suggests a link with [[m|la|vānus|t=empty]].^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of a church benefice or other office: not filled, without a holder: about 1290, in the ''South English Legendary''.^(OED 2026) Barnhart and Etymonline date the spelling ''vacaunt'' to about 1300,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and the Anglo-Norman Dictionary records the word from about 1292 for a post that lacks an incumbent.^(AND)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From “without a holder” the word widened to anything empty: having no contents is recorded about 1400,^(Etymonline)^(OED 2026) and of houses or land without tenants from 1518 (the 1510s in Etymonline).^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline) In the 16th century it was also used of time free from business, from 1531 in Thomas Elyot's ''Governour'', and of people at leisure,^(OED 2026) and Johnson (1755) defined it first as empty or unfilled, then as free or unencumbered.^(Johnson 1755) The sense “empty of thought, expressionless”, of a look or a mind, is first recorded in 1712, in Steele's essays in ''The Spectator''.^(Barnhart 1988) The derivative [[vacancy]] is recorded from about 1580.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1290 – of a benefice or office: not filled.^(OED 2026)

+ * c. 1400 – empty of contents.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1518 – of a house or land: without tenants.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1531 – of time: free from business.^(OED 2026)

+ * c. 1580 – the noun ''vacancy''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1600 – of a seat or place: not taken, in Shakespeare's ''Much Ado about Nothing''.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1712 – expressionless, vacuous.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1853 – of water: free from ice.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[empty|alt=Empty]]; not [[occupied]] or in use: ''a vacant parking space''.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Of a post or office: without anyone holding it.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Of a house or room: with no one living in or using it.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+ # Showing no thought, interest or expression: ''She gave him a vacant look.''^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Of time: not taken up by any activity.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # ''Vacant of'': lacking, without.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[vacantly]]

+ * [[vacantness]]

+ * [[nonvacant]]

+ * [[unvacant]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[vacate]]

+ * [[vacuous]]

+ * [[vacuum]]

+ * [[vacation]]

+ * [[void]]

+ * [[evacuate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}